Diversity in Hair
Blue, brown, curly, straight, braids, beads, headscarves, hijabs, bonnets, and so much more. Everyday I walk around campus, I see an arrangement of different hair and hair accessories. What might not have been acceptable in high school has the range to be whatever they want.
As a Black woman, hair has become a ritual for me. At the start of every semester I get box braids that I pray lasts me at least two months into school. And when my edges start to become fuzzy and braids get too heavy, I take them out and rock my natural curls for the rest of the semester.
The change in hair has my classmates asking me if I've cut my hair, or commenting with “wow it looks so different.” What once might have made me insecure and feel small, is now an added accessory to every outfit.
I love being able to wear my natural curls to class and, even more, I love having the freedom to express myself through my hair however I want to.
But it wasn’t long ago when it was frowned upon to wear your hair in an afro or even dye it crazy colors. For years we were taught that in order to be taken seriously, we had to have straight, brown hair as the default.
Illustration by Korina Cobb @lowrina_kc
In 2019 the Crown Act was passed in California, which states it's illegal to racially discriminate against individuals based on their hairstyles. In a generation that thrives off creativity, fun outfits and funky hair, this act serves as a reminder that there is not only one way to look professional.
When I'm bored in class, one of my favorite things is to look at the hair around me. Whether it's in a messy bun, curled to perfection, or covered up by a hijab, it all tells a different story.
In our generation, hair is no longer just hair. It has become a source of creative expression and liberation.
The rise of Tik Tok has introduced so many new accessories and hairstyles that are prevalent on campus. Claw clips can be seen adorned on most girls' heads along with decorative head scarfs to give wearers a boho look. Inspiration from the 70s and 60s blowouts have also paved the way for big curls and rollers to come back into style.
For many Black girls, we’ve gone back to our childhood roots and added beads and barrettes back to our hairstyles to feel like a child again. It’s a blast from the past, bringing in 90s fashion to the new decade.
Illustration by Korina Cobb @lowrina_kc
Social media has even taught girls how to wear their curls confidently and what products to use. Long gone are the straighteners and fried hair, replaced by bouncy and healthy curls.
We’ve also learned that hair isn’t everything. Wolf cuts, bobs, mini ‘fros and shaved heads are proof that women are no longer conforming to the stereotype that you have to have long hair to be pretty. These women are making the change from viewing their beauty through the male gaze to the female gaze, and dictating what they want to do with their own bodies.
As a generation, we are creating new trends and bringing back old ones. We are learning to try different things with our hair and breaking expectations of what we are supposed to look like. The culture of hair is everchanging, and our campus is proof of it.
Sierra Stallworth — November 9th, 2021
